Pleasurephone.



C.` A. WARDNER.

`PLEASUREPHONIE. APPLIoATIoN FILED APR. 19, 1907.

899,641, .Y Patented Sept. 29, 1908;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n@ @mwg UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHAPRLES A. WARDNER, OF BRUSHTON, NEW YORK,

PLEASUREPHONE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WARDNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brushton, in the county of Franklin and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Pleasurephone, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention has reference to improvements in pleasurephones, that is, in a system whereby any number of subscribers maybe supplied lwith news and entertainment or bot on the coperative plan.

The object of the invention is to provide a number of subscribers with telephonie communication through a' central polnt with oneor more independent sources of news or entertainment, or with several differently located sources of entertainment s0 coacting as to produce a united effect, the whole system being so arranged as to prevent interference from extraneous sources of any character and also to prevent malicious or accidental interference y one or more subscribers with the rece tion of the news or entertainment provide for bythe arrangementifof the system.

The invention consists essentially of a central station having a means of communication with a source of entertainment ornews, either located at the central station or at outlying oints which may be so-coupledthat severa entertainers may act in conjunction to perform their individual parts so4 that they may blend to produce a concerted effeet, the same as the members of an orchestra or band, while performing individually, still blend into cneharmonious whole. Since by this system each subscriber is'provided with a receiver only, it is possible to use but two main conductors from which any number of subscribers may be branched as desired at any convenient point. It will be understood, of course, that there will be but one pair of conductors in anyone direction from the central station to feed aslarge an outlying district las may be economically reached, and where it is desired to feed sev'- eral outlying districts in different directions it may be more economical to provide a single air of conductors for each district, especial y where such outlying districts are i-nd- When the system 1s tovergent directions. supply news, this may be furnished dlrectly from the central station or from some news center lto which the main line may be coupled Specification o'f Letters Patent.

longitudinal section,

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Application led April 19, 1907. `Serial No. 369,169.'

up as desired, and the same may be true of the transmission of entertainment when any set of subscribers may be furnished with connection'to a transmitter located, for instance, in an opera house in such position asto reccive the music produced by singers or by a v band or orchestra. l But where it is desired to bring together upon the' subscribers -main line the harmonious effect of the individual efforts of separated performers, each one of these performers Will be provided with a transmitter and also with a receiver,- preferably of the head type, so that all the pcrformers will be in inter-communication and can therefore regulate and time their individual productions to harmonize with those of the others, and thus produce upon the subscribers line the same total harmonious effect that is reduced' by the individual members of a iiand or orchestra or chorus when located at the same point and acting under the direction of a competent leader.

The invention comprises means for enabling a subscriber to control at will the volume of sound received, and to cut in or cut out his receiver, but otherwise the sub- "scriber has no control whatever over the transmission of sound o'ver the mains, and, therefore, cannot interfere, either accidentally or urposely, with the transmission of the sounds. For this reason there can be no marring or interruptions of the transmitted soundsand the subscriber hears only whatit is intended he should hear.

- The invention also comprises means for preventing interruptions due to the crossing of other circuits with the transmission circuit of this system, and it alsoeompriscs various details which will be fully set forth in thc'following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this spec1ication,'in which,--

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic view illustrating the working of the system; Fig.`2 is a artlyV in elevation, through a form lof amp ifying receiver; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on the line :v-- of Fig. 2; and Fig.- 4 is a view showing another arrangement of the structure shown inFig.2. y

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a numberof double-throw, double-pole, knife switches 1 arranged to make contact with circuit vterminals 2-3 or 4 5. All the circuit terminals 2 are connected in series, as indicated, and allthe' `circuit terminals 3 are connected in series. Also, all the circuit terminals 4 are connected in series and all the circuit terminals 5 areconnected in series. Thearrange'ment is such that if any switch 1 be placedin contact with circuit terminalsl 2 3, all the other circuit terminals 2 3 are included in circuit with the switch 1, and any other switch 1 that is moved into contact with other of the circuit terminals 2 3 will be included in circuit with the lirst switch 1. The sa'me is true ofthe circuit terminals 4 5, so that any switch 1 moved t'o make contact with any pair of circuit terminals 4 5 may be includediin circuit with any other switch in contactl with these respective terminals 4 5.

The pivotal oints of the switches 1 form the terminals o electric circuits coming from or leading to various points. For instance, the uppermost switch 1 as shown in Fig. 1 has its pivotal points constituting the terminals of two conductors 6 7 leadmg to a microphone transmitter 8 which may be located either at the central station or at some other point to be referred to later.

Branched from the conductors 6 7 are other conductors 9 10 terminating at a double-pole, single-'throw switch 11 in the path of which are terminals 12 of a circuit including the fine wire or secondary coil of an inducterian 13. The-primary coil of the inductorian 13 is included in a circuit 14 which also includes a micro honic transmitter 15 to the rontof which't ere is attached a sound gathering and conveying horn 16 conveniently hung from some ixed oint 17 by means of hangers 18, which may be in the form of light sprin s to prevent any jars affecting the horn 16. n the microphone circuit is included a switch 19 to cut in any one of a number of battery sets 20 connected up to give different voltage so that the operator may regulate the volume of sound sent out to the line to suit the music being played in front of the horn 16.l The transmitting mechanism included in the circuit'9-10 through the switch 11 is located at the central oflice, as is alsoV the transmitter 8, which latter is provided with a large mouthpiece 21 and may ikewise be provided with a headlistening set, as indicated in the drawings. -The battery connections of the transmitter 8 are not shown in the drawings. It will be understood, however, that thls transmitter 8 is indicative of a transmitter arranged for long battery strain and is designed to be very sensitive, and may at the same time be provided, as stated, with the listening head set. This transmitter 8 is preferably of the' desk type so that it may be used to such a position as to best suit the user. Such a transmitting set is intended for the use of musicians who may sing into the same while aband or other accompany- 65 ing source of music may be playing in front .parts being sung and so vided, either at the central station or at his residence,'jwith a transmitting set 8, and by proper connections at the central olice the several vocalists may sing their parts into the transmitters 8, and b means of the head listening sets are enable to hear the other l keep in correct time the same as though all the vocalists were present at one point. The music thus produced, when transmitted through a single line, will, of course, unite in one complex series of electrical waves which are the result of all the several series produced at the transmitters of the several vocalists, and' anone provided with a suitable receiver wi hear the resultant harmony of the chorus of as many voices asl there are transmitters 8'with the accompaniment produced in front ofthe horn 16 and the impression produced upon the listener willbe the same as that produced by a chorus and orchestra perform- 1n at one single point.

ow, in the particular instance so far described it is assumed that there is being produced in front of the horn 16 some form of instrumental music and that a vocalist is performing in front of a transmitter S. The resultant sound is transmitted over the conductors 6 7 to the u pcrmost switch 1. Let it be supposed that tlils switch is in lace in Contact vwith its terminals 2 3. ow, let it also be `supposed that thc third switch, counting downward in Fig. 1, is moved to make contact with its terminals 2 3. pivot points of this switch form the terminals of main line conductors 22 23 which are assumed to lead to any distant point or points and may be branched all over a city and may lead from one city to another; in fact, these conductors may lead to as great a distance as it is possibleto transmit sound. N ow, the subscribers having receivers of proper type, as will hereinafter be described,

ranched olf from these main line conductors 22 23, will be enabled to listen to the sounds being produced by the central oflice and also entertained or instructed by what is being transmitted over the main line conductors 22-23, according to the character of the transmitted sounds. Now, let it be further supposed that there are subscribers local to the central ofice where it will be more economical to provide another set of mains instead of attempting to reach, these subscribers by the mains 22-23. Such mains areindicated at 24 25 and include between then' terminals the arms of one of the switches 1 which is shown in Fig. 1 as the second in order, reading downward, and branched off from the mains 24 25 are The I v24-25, a junction box 30. This -boX contains two condensers 31, one in eacht branch conductor 26h-27, and also a lightning arrester 32 of any' suitable type, having a ground connection 33. v

In the branch circuit 26-27 is included an ordinary head listening. set 34 at the end of a flexible conductor 35, so that the subscriber may place the receiving set 34 upon his head and locate himself in any part of the room he occupies that he may ,'pleasc, or he may even take his ease in a recumbent position while receiving the sounds coming over the transmission line. Now, in order that the subscriber may regulate the volume .of sound received to suit his taste, there is included `in the circuit 26-27, within easy reach, an adjustable rheostat 36, and this rheostat may also include the cut-out switch, or a separate cut-out switch may be provided, as desired.

In the circuit 28-29 is shown a different typeof subscribers receiver, whereb the received sound instead of being individualized, to the' single subscriber, as when the head set is used, may be transmitted to any part 'of a room or auditorium. The form of receiver included in the branch circuit 28-29 is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This receiver consists of a magneto telephone 37, which may be of the ordinary type but large and powerful, and in place ofthe usual cap there may be provideda casing 38 including two chambers 39 and1 40. 'Within the chamber 39 is contained the telephone'diaphragm 41, having at its center a stem v42. Within the chamber 40, -which is' considerably larger than the chamber 39, there issecured another dia hragm 43, larger than thediaphragm 42, an between the two chambers there is a support or post or connection 44. This support 44 carries an arm 45.' at its pivotal point, the

said arm constituting a lever of the first order. The shorter arm of the lever 45 is connected to a stem 42 and-the longer end of the lever 451s connected to`a stem 46 fast on the diaphra m 4,3 at its centen The diaphragm 43 1s he d tdi-the casing on the opposite slde thereof to the diaphragm 41 by means oi" a lhollow cap 47 from the center of which projects an amplifying horn 48, either in one plece with t e cap47 or appropriately secured thereto. The receiver as a whole is supported by elastic hangers .49 from a fixed polnt 50 which may, if desired, be the ceiling of the room in which the amplifying receiver is located. Screw caps 51` and 52 give access to the chambers 39 ahd 40, respectively, and an elastic clamping ring 53 may be interposed between the dlaphragm 43 and the cap 47. Now, it will be seen that vibrations transmitted by the electrical impulses 'to the diaeluded in the mains 53 phrao'm 41 will be enlarged by the lever 45 and the diaphragm 43 will have a greater amplitude of movement than the diaphragm 41. ,he airwaves produced by the diaphragm 43 will be amplified by the horn 45, and, conse- `quently,`the sounds will be distinctly audible throu h the room in which the receiver is placed and to all parts of the roo'm. By this means a number oil people may receive instruction or pleasure by listening to the sounds emitted by the horn or amplifier 48.

The rheostat 36 included in the subscribers branch Vline'wher'e ahead set is used, is of the self-inductionv type; that is, the coils of the rheostat are reactance coils suitable for cutting down the alternating electric waves corresponding to the sound vibrations. Since the transmission of electrical waves varies on the line with the variations of climatic conditions, and also since the transmitted waves must be suited to the loudest re reduction desired, the received sounds w1 l be obtrusively loud for subscribers using Ithe head set; consequently, they may easily cut down the intensity of the received sound by means of the rheostat until it suits-their convenience.

The junction boxes 30 are made watertight and the condensers are made sufficiently large to correspond to the number of subscribers carried on thebranch line, since, f of course, more than one subscrlber may be l included in each branch line. The condensers prevent all interference from direct currents which may be thrown upon the l1ne from the crossing of the same with light or power circuits, and the lightning arrester will take care of powerful alternating currents either coming from li ht or power circuits or from lightning dlschar es. Now, while I have shown the subscribers circuits as being branched from the local mains 24--25, it will be understood that the long distance mains 22-23'will have as many branch circuits as may be necessary to supply the lsubscribers along the line, and when the mains 22-23 Iextend to an adjacent community or to a distant community they may lcad into a local exchange where connections may be made'to local subscribers and where an operator may be located to take care of the various instruments. The main central'. station, however, will be located at some prmloterminod point and the entertaining or instructive soumis will be -telephonically transmitted from'such central'station to all the sub-stations and to all 'the subscribers.

In the drawing, Fig.l 1,'there are.other switches l shown than those already referred. l

to. For instamzc, the fourth switch 1`may I,he included in afcircuit comprising mains 51--52 coming from a transmitter located in a theater or other such place of entertainment, while Vthc iifth switch 1 may be in- 54 v. coming from a manana the 'sixth swath and other auch switches may be included in 'mains -55-56 and other circuits coming from the 'residences of local musicians, so that when 1t 1s desired to give a concert made up of numerous voices it is not necessary' to assemblethe musicians at the central stationbut they may. individually transmit their parts to the centralstation where these arts will be united through the switch-boar and transmitted; to t e main conductors 22-23 and so to the subheard lby the 'listening' subscriber as t 20 scribers.' At the central station there will b e locateda time "iece arranged to give audible.

indication of t e hours, half-hours and quarter-hours, but the timepiece will beso located as not to obtrude'thesound produced thereby u on the other sounds so as to 1n any way inte ere with them but will simpxly ble O11 located somewhere in the background. WIE roviding printed daily programs, which 'l be furnished to 'each' subscriber, the latter 'will be enabled to make choice of theparticular part of the program he desires to hear, and at' certain intervals the daily news will be transmitted tothe several subscribers, with -an epitome of the news at certain stated intervals each morning and evenin In fact,

' there is almost no limit'to the c aracter of the sounds which may be transmitted to the several subscribers for their instruction or entertainment, or both.

By thev roper manipulation of the switches 1 the various parts makin up thedays program maybe directly 'un er the control of a" single operator at the central station, and by roperly timing the various performances, ot

those furnished by the central oiiice inv the matterof music, lectures, news,.etc., or by connection with separatel -located musi- .cal performers, orwith churc es or theaters,

all these parts may be made to follow each other without material interruption and without interference. f v Y In order that the operator at the central station may take cognizance of what is trans-- piring on the line, this operator is provided with a head set 57 having terminals 58 at the end of a suitable flexible conductor 59, which terminals may be placed in contact with any of the switch contacts 2-3 or 4-5.

-leading therefrom, telephonie receivers connected in multiple-arc to said main line conother circuits leading Iductors at outlying stations, telephonie trans- 'mitters exterior to said central station and at said central station, and means at the cen- -tral station for connecting the transmitters -in multiple-arc'to the main line conductors -for coactive effect of said transmitters upon all the receivers. A v p 2. A lpleasurephone system comprisin a central station 'switch board including double-throw, two-pole switches, sets of contacts therefor with the like contacts connected up in series, circuits leading to said switchboard and each including a microphonic transmitter and-one of the aforesaid switches, to distant oints and each including one o the aforesai switches, and telephonie receivers included in multiplearc branches of said circuits leading to distant points.

3.`v A pleasurephone system comprising a central station switch board mcludmg double-throw, two-pole switches, sets of contacts therefor with the like contacts of each set connected up in series, transmission circuits including micro honic transmitters and leading to the centra station and there connected each to one ofthe aforesaid switches,

a transmission circuit leadingv from said central station and connected to one of the aforesaid s'wltches, .and telephonie receivers connected up in multiple-arc to the out-going transmission circuit, whereby the transmission circuits leading to the central station may -be connected up in multiple-arc tothe transmission circuit leading from said central station. p j

4. A'pleasurephone system comprising a central station, a single pair of main line conductors leading therefrom, a numberjof receivers at outlying stations connected in multiple-arc to said main line conductors, a number of telephone sets including transmitters and receivers at points exterior to the central station, and means at the central station for coupling the telephone sets to each other and4 to the main line conductors for coactive effect upon each other and upon the distant receivers.

5. A pleasurephone system comprising a central station, main line conductors leading therefrom, subscribers stations rovided with receivers only, means at the su scribcrs stations for modifying the intensity of the received impulses, a transmitter at the central station, means connected therewith for modifying the intensity of the impulses sent to line byssaid transmitter, telephone sets including both receivers and transmitters cxterior to the central station, lines of conductors leadinggfrom said telephone sets to the central station, and meansfit the central station 'for'couplin' up the telephone sets to the outgoing main lline conductors in multiplearc to the saidconductors and for coupling up the transmitter at the central station In testimony that I claim the foregoing as to said main line conductors "whereby the my own, I have hereto affixed my signature combined effect of a predetermined number in the bresence of two Witnesses.

of the several transmitters may be thrown 1 CHARLES A. WARDNER. 5 upon the main line and transmitted to the Witnesses:

subscribers stations for coactive effect on the M. W. WRIGHT, transmitters thereat. A. M. SHEALS. 

